Bottle carriers



Oct. 2, 1956 F. A. DE MARI-A 2,765,100

l BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed April is, 1954 I 2 sheets-sheet 1 im 1w liA ml l' l i 1li fm1/en for Oct. 2, 1956 F. A. DE MARIA 2,765,100

BOTTLE CARRIERS med April 1s,A 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [31A 221A um als saN f United States Patent() BOTTLE CARRIERS Fred A. De Maria, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor to Coates Board & Carton, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application April 1s, 1954, serial No. 422,928

1 claim. (ci. 22o- 113) This invention relates to bot-tie carriers, particularly to those made from sheet material such as' cardboard or the like.

Bottle carriers have been made in many different forms from cardboard and like material, and such bottle carriers have been made in what is termed collapsible form so that `the carriers may be manufactured and shipped in a collapsed or fiat form and may be readily erected at the time when such carriers are to be loaded with bottles. The usual arrangement in bottle carriers of this' general character provides a lower carrying or bottle receiving body adapted to receive an even number of bottles arranged in two parallel rows of bottles, and with an upwardly extending handle connected to the bottle receiving body and disposed between the rows of bottles so that it may be grasped by the user in supporting the loaded carrier.

Among the various forms of preformed collapsible bottle carriers that have been evolved in the art over the years', one form that has recently met with wide commercial acceptance is so formed that weight-transmitting connections infolded and pivotally related to the middle fold lines of the end panels are extended upwardly and secured between the panels of a multiple thickness handle.

Prior structures embodying weight-transmitting riser panels .are sho-wn in -the copending application of Michael H. Kowal, Serial No. 33,368, filed June 16, 1948, now Patent VNo. 2,692,700, and in the Edwin L. Arneson Patent No. 2,537,615, patented January 9, 1951, and itis to improve and extend the useful Vlife of such prior bottle carriers that the present invention is directed.

Thus, in such prior structures it has been found that long continued use, as in several trips back and forth between the bottling works, the retail store and the nal re-A 'i now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from f the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings: j Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bottle carrier ,embodying the features of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are side and end views, respectively, of

thebottle carrier shown in Fig. 1; and

' Figs. 4 to 7 are views on a reduced scalerwhch 4illusrice trate the successive folding and gluing steps that are performed in constructing the bottle carrier in Fig. 1.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a bottle carrier 20 that is adapted to receive six bottles in two parallel rows of three bottles each. A carrier having certain of the broad aspects of the carrier 20 is disclosed in the copending application of Michael H. Kowal, and in the aforesaid Arnes'on patent, and the present invention constitutes an improvement on prior bottle carriers of this general type. The carrier 20 is made from cardboard or like sheet material to embody, when erected, upstanding side walls 21A and 21B that are connected at opposite ends by the end walls 22 and 23, these end walls of the .two side walls 21A land 21B are connected by' bottom panels 24A and 24B that are foldably connected to the lower edges of such side walls and are foldably related to each other along a central line disposed midway between the two side walls 21A and 21B. Disposed in a plane that is midway between the two side walls 21A and 21B an upstanding handle 25 is afforded in which fingerreceiving opening 26 and related cushioning flaps 27 are formed in the usual manner so as to pivot along the upper edge of such opening 26.

The handle 25 is connected to the end walls 22 and 23 through the medium of weight-transmitting riser members 23 and 29 that serve, as will hereinafter be described, to connect the adjacent edges of the panels that form thes'e two end walls, and the riser members 28 and 29 extend upwardly into position between panels 25A and 25B that afford the handle 25. The riser members 28 and 29 are disposed relatively close to the end walls of the carrier and serve as bottle separating members between the end bottles in the adjacent rows.

The bottles in each row are separated by separating bars that extend between the side walls and the handle 25 at substantially the one-third points along the carrier, and these separating bars are pivotally connected along vertical axes to the handle 25 and the respective side walls. Thus, each of the side walls has an upward extension in the middle one-third thereof, the extension being identied as 221A on the wall 21A and as 221B on the wall 21B. Each such extension 221A and 221B is formed in an integral and uncreased relationship with respect to the related side wall, and as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a separating lbar 31B extends from one edge of the extension of 221B to the related point along the lower edge of the handle 25, while a separating bar 32B extends from the other vertical end edge of the extension 221B to the related point at the lower edge of the handle 25. Similar separating bars 31A and 32A serve to conneet the opposite end edges of the extension 221A with the handle 25, thereby to divide each side portion of the carrier 2l) into a row of three bottle-receiving openings, each of which is defined by narrow Vertical edges of vertically disposed portions of the cardboard material.

It should be observed that the separating bars 32A and 32B are pivotally connected to integral portions of the lower portion of the handle 25 as will hereinafter be described in detail, while the inner ends of the separa-ting bars 31A and 31B are connected to joining panels 33A and 33B, respectively, that are secured in position between the handle panels 25A 4and 25B so that a relatively rigid mounting portion of such joining panels projects downwardly below the lower edge of the handle panels to afford the desired vertical pivotal axes for the inner' ends of the separating bars 31A and 31B.

ln producing the carrier 2i), that is shown in Fig. 1 in its erected condition, a blank is made from cardboard or like material in the form illustrated in Fig. 4 of the dra-wings. ll-n this blank, the two bottom panels 24A and 24B are joined together along a central longitudinal fold line 40, and the side wall ZlA is joined to the opposite edge of the bottom panel 24A along a fold line 41A. At the left hand end .of the side 4wall 21A, Fig. 4, the end panel 23A is joinedalong a fold kline 42A, while at the other end of the side lwall 21A, .the end panel v22A is .joined along a fold line 43A. The riser panels 28A and 29A are joined respectively along other edges of the end panels 22A and Y23A .by lfold lines 44A and 45A, and .it will be noted that the fold lines 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A are all parallel. 'The extension 221A is, of course, formed in an vintegral and uncreased relationship along the Aother or upper edge of -the side wall 21A, and the separating bar 31A is connected along Ia vertical fold line 46A to one end of the extension 222A, while the other separating bar 32A .is connected along a vertical foldline .47A to the other end of the extension of 121A.

It will be observed that the separating bars 31A and 32A are, in the blank, disposed adjacent to the upper edges of the side wall 21A, and a slit 49A extended from the lower end of .the -fold .line `46A to the upper end of the fold line 43A substantially parallel to the lower fold line .41A serves to physically separatethe adjacent edges of the side wall 21A and the separating bar 31A. Similarly, a slit 50A extends 4from the lower end of the fold line .47A to the upper end of the fold line 42A, thereby to physically separate the adjacent edges of the bar 32A and the side wall 21A. The handle panel 25A is in effect offset to the left in the blank from Vthe side wall 21A as shown in Fig. 4, and a slit 51A extended from the upperend of the fold line .46A and to the left in Fig. 4 serves to separate the handle Ipanel'ZSA from .the upper edge of the .extension 221A and from the upper edge of the separating bar 32A. The slit 51A terminates at .the .upper end of a fold line 52A which is aligned with the fold line 42A, and this fold line 52A serves to connect the other or inner end .of the 'bar 32A to a connecting extension 53A which extends downwardly below the lower edge of the handle 25A as such edge. is defined by the slit 51A. The downward extension 53A isdcned at its vlower `edge `by slit 54A .which extends from the upper end of the fold 'line `42A .to the fold `line 45A. `In the present instance .this slit 45A extends from the adjacent end of the slit 50A in a reverse curved upward direction, thus to define an artistically curved sloping upper edge for the end panel 23A. It will be observed that the fold line 45A that connects the end 4panel 23A -with the riser panel 29A extends upwardly as Yat 245A zbeyond the adjacent end` of the slit 54A, Athereby to pivotally connect the riser panel 29A with the right hand edge of the handle panel '25A as viewed in Fig. 4.

The securing panel 33A is disposed, -in part, above the end panel 22A as shown in Fig. .4, and a reversely curved sloping slit 55A, corresponding to the slit 54A at the other side of the blank, extends from the upper ,end of the fold line 43A .to the upper end of the ,fold line 44A, and a slit 56A extends from the Vleft hand ,endof ,the

slit 55A upwardly from about the midpoint of the curved Aslit 55A in alignment with the fold line 44A so as to completely sever the securing panel 33A from .the riser panel 28A. The securing panel 33A thus has a do-wnward extension portion similar to the extension 53A, and this extension is connected along a fold line 57A to the .other or inner end of the separating bar 31A. As will be evident in Fig. 4, the securing panel 33A has an extended portion 233A disposed immediately above a portion of the bar 31A and a slit 58A that is vparallel to the fold line A41A, extends to the right, Fig. .4, from the upper end of the fold line 57A to thereby separate this extended portion 233A from the bar 31A. The extended portion 233A is joined to the handle panel 25A along ,an extension 246A of the fold line 46A.

The ends of the risers 28Aand 28B are formed :with hook elements 328A vand 328B so that Vin the completed -used with the suix B in each instance. will be observed that the locking ap 443B is of subcarton, these hook elements are arranged in face to face relation, vand may be engaged with the adjacent end .ci the bottom of the carrier at notch 224, Fig. 4, for the purpose of holding the carrier in its erected position.

Returning now to the securing panel 33A and its extension 233A, it will be noted that the upper edge of the extension 233A is defined by van edge 333A that is disposed parallel to the slit l58A and a substantial distance below the upper end of .the riser panel 28A, and within the space between the handle panel 25A, the upper end portion of the riser 28A andthe edge 333A, means are afforded in the blank which are effective in accordance with the present invention to assure a long-lasting anchored relationship between the riser panels 28A and 28B and the respective -handle -panels 2SA and 25B. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, an elongated ap 445A is extended to the left from the left hand edge of the handle panel 25A just above the edge 333A, and this .anchoring ap 443A is .connected to the handle panel 25A along a fold line .446A that Vconstitutes an upward extension of the fold lines 46A and 246A. This anchoring flap .443A functions as will be ,described in detail .hereinafter to afford a mechanically interlocking connection between the upper end of the riser 228A andthe handle panel 25A, and this results in a longer useful life .for the carrier.

VOn lthe other siderof the central fold line 40, the elements are in most respects symmetrical with the elements thus'far described, and the same vreference characters are However, it

stantially `greater .width in a direction perpendicular to the .edge 333B so that the edge 543B of the ap 443B that is remote from such .edge 333B is located in alignment with a fold line 225B which in the finished carrier .defines the Aupper edgeof Lthe handle 25. This fold line 225B serves to foldab'ly .join a flap 125B to the upper edge ofthe panel `25B so .that such flap 125B may, in the -nished carrier, he folded downwardly to afford a finished upper ledge on thehandle 25, as shown in Fig. l, while at the same Atime strengthening the handle 25. The handle 25 is further strengthened by forming the flap 443B with a somewhat narrower extension 653B which twill .extend across .oralong the upper edge of the opening26 within the handle 25, as will be evident in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

`With the blank shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the successive 'gluing and .folding operations may be performed in substantially the sequence shown comparatively by Figs. 4 to '7, inclusive, `and Fig. Z of the drawings, but for purposes of clarity of disclosure, these folding and gluing operations are `shown in yconsiderable detail and in many `instances -it may be desirable to perform at least certain of such folding and gluing operations concurrently rather-than -in sequence as illustrated in the afore- `said series of views. Thus, as the first operation in the formation of the carrier from the blank of Fig. 4, glue is applied to glue areas .G-'1 which constitute the inner faces of the handle panels ,25A 4and 25B, land the .depending .elementsvSA and 56B. The lrst folding operation .thenperformed by folding the separating bars 31A and 31B land the related extensions 1233A and 233B along the fold lines v146A and 246A, and fold 'lines 46B and 246B fromfthe relationship shown in Fig. 4 tothe relationship shown in Fig. 5. This locates the securing panels 33A andSB and extension 233A and 233B in contact `with the portions lof the glue areas G-ll on the handle panels 25A and 215B, lso that-these securing'panels are in effect -attached to the inner faces of the handle panels. It should be noted, however, that the separating bars 31A and 31B are ,disposed against the unglued surfaces of the extensions A221A and 221B so that these separating bars will Ybe rf ree to piove in the manner required in the final psc gor lerection of the carrier.

A kg-lue larea G-,Z then applied so as to cover the portions '33A and 233A as shown in Fig. 5, and a glue area G-S is applied so as to cover a portion of the element 233B as shown in 5. The end panels 22A and 22B `are then folded about the fold lines '43A and 43B so `as to dispose the risers `28A and 28B in the positions of Fig. 6, related portions of the glue areas Gel, G-`2 and G43.

When the riser panels 28A and 28B lare in this relation, as shown in Fig. 6, additional glue areas G-4 and G-S are applied to the exposed upper ends of the riser panels 28A and 28B opposite the flaps 443A and 443B, as shown in Fig. 6.

The interlocking or anchoring liaps '443A land 443B are then folded ralong the lines 446A and `44MB to the positions shown in Fig. 7, thus to engage the ilap 443A with the glue area G-4 and an adjacent portion of the glue area G-1, and to engage the flap 443B with the glue area G-'S and the extension 643B with the adjacent area G-l of the panel 25B. The riser panels 29A and 29B are also folded along the lines 45A and 45B, thus to engage upper portions of the riser panels with the adjacent areas of the glue areas G41 of the panels 25A and 25B, as shown inFig. 7.

The exposed faces of the riser panels 28A and 29A then have glue areas G-6 and G-7 applied thereto; the exposed face of the locking ap 443A has .a `glue area G-'S applied thereto; and a glue area G`9 covers the face ofthe ilap 125B. The blank is then folded yalong the central fold line '40 from the relationship sho`wn in Fig. 7 to the relationship shown in Fig. 2, so that the riser panels 28A and 28B are glued together and afford a pivotal connection between the adjacent end panels 22A and 22B. In this same folding operation [the riser panels 29A yand 29B are secured together so that the lower portions thereof afford a pivotal connection between the end panels 23A and 23B while the upper portions serve to connect or join the vertical marginal edges of the handle panels together. Moreover, the handle panels 25A and 225B are eifectually glued together; the yflaps 443A and 443B are effectually lglued together; the opposed portions 233A and 235B .are glued together; the parts 63A and 33B are :glued together; `and the remaining portions of the handle panels 25A and 25B are secured together. The upper edge flap E125B is then folded over along the line 225B to the position shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3.

The lcarrier 20, in the folding operations that have just been described, is completed in the collapsed form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the carrier is normally shipped and stored in this collapsed form. When the carrier is to be erected, opposing forces are applied to the end edge of the side wall 21A at the right hand end thereof as viewed in Fig, 2 and to the left hand edge of the end wall 23A, Fig. 2. This causes the carmier to move toward land into the erected relationship shown in Fig. l, and when this movement has been continued until the center line of the handle is aligned with the center line of the side walls, the carrier will assume the fully erected relationship shown in :F-igS. l and 2 of the drawings. The carrier 20 may be maintained in the fully erected position by Ilocking lugs 328A and 328B formed on the lower edge of the riser panel 28A and 728B, this lug being adapted to engage the end edge 221iI of the bottom panels 24A and 24B.

In this fully erected condition, the carrier of the present invention may be disposed in the conventional cases used in the bottle industry, and the bottle loading operations may be performed readily .and easily, `and conventional case-loading machinery may be used if desired.

In the erected carrier 20, the riser panels 29A and 29B are held firmly iin position between the panels of the handle 25 not only by the glued areas, but also by the mechanical connection alorded by the 4fold line extensions 245A and 245B, and while this is impor-tant from a commercial standpoint, it should be observed that this relationship is the same as that employed in -the prior structures hereinabove discussed. Under the present in- Vention, however, the strength and permanence of the connection between the riser panels .29A and 29B is matched or equa-led in the connection that is afforded between the riser panels 28A and 28B and the handle 25, thu-s to eliminate the weak point heretofore found in bottle carriers of this general type. Thus, folding of the locking aps 443A and 443B about the upper end portions of the respective riser panels 28A and 28B serves effec-tually to resist and prevent edgewise displacement of these upper end portions, and this preserves the adhesive :bond between the handle panels and the riser panels and affords equal strength and endurance in both of the weight tnansmitting connections of the carrier.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not -wish to be limited to the precise detai-ls set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall Within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

In a preformed collapsible bottle carrier, a pair of rectangular bottom panels foldably connected to each other along a central fold line, side Walls foldably connected at their lower edges to the outer free edges of the respective bottom panels and each having a centrally located vertical extension along its upper edge with such extensions terminating in spaced relation to the opposite ends of the side walls, a pair of end panels at one end of said carrier pivoted along vertical fold lines to the corresponding ends of said side walls, riser panels pivotally connected along the other edges of the respective end panels and each extending a substantial distance up wardly beyond the upper edges of said end panels, said riser panels being extended inwardly in face-to-face relation and being secured together to pivotally connect said end panels, a second pair of end panels pivotally connected along vertical fold lines to the other end edges of the respective side walls, a second pair of riser panels pivotally connected to the other edges of the respective end panels and being extended inwardly and secured together in face-to-face relation, said second pair of riser panels extending upwardly a substantial distance above the upper edge of said second pair of end panels, a pair of handle panels pivotally connected at one end along vertical fold lines to the upwardly extending portions of said second pair of riser panels and being disposed against and secured to the upwardly extending portions of said second pair of riser panels in sandwiching relation thereto, said handle panels having their other ends sandwiching the opposite faces of the upwardly extending portions Iof the first mentioned pair of riser panels and being secured thereto, locking aps connected to the respective handle panels at said other ends thereof and pivotally connected along vertical fold lines and bent inwardly about the upper extensions of said lirst mentioned riser panels and secured between said handle panels to interlock such handle panels and riser panels, a lateral extension panel pivotally connected along a vertical fold line to each handle panel along said other end thereof immediately below the corresponding locking flap, each lateral extension having a downwardly extending portion at its outer free end and each being folded in face-toface contact with its associated handle panel, a first pair of separating bars pivotally connected at opposite ends along vertical fold lines to vertical edges of said downwardly extending portions of said extension flaps and corresponding vertical edges of said upwardly extending centrally located portions of respective side walls, each handle panel having a downwardly extending portion adjacent to but spaced inwardly from said one end thereof which is pivotally connected to the corresponding riser UNITED STATES PATENTS A'rneson Ap. 29, 1v-952 

